• USD/CAD trades without a clear direction as markets await US macroeconomic catalysts.
• Rising Oil prices support the Canadian Dollar amid escalating Middle East tensions.
• Investors focus on US PMI data to assess economic resilience and monetary policy outlook.

USD/CAD trades around 1.3670 on Thursday, virtually unchanged on the day, as investors adopt a cautious stance ahead of the release of S&P Global PMI data in the United States (US). The pair remains in a consolidation phase, caught between support for the Canadian Dollar (CAD) from higher Oil prices and sustained demand for the US Dollar (USD) in a risk-averse environment.

The Canadian Dollar, a commodity-linked currency, is supported by rising Oil prices amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Oil is advancing for a fourth consecutive day, trading around $92.70 per barrel, driven by concerns over supply disruptions. Escalation between Iran and the US, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, is fueling these concerns following incidents involving vessels and the continuation of a US naval blockade.

However, the upside for the Canadian Dollar remains limited by the relative strength of the US Dollar, which retains its safe-haven appeal. Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and the lack of tangible diplomatic progress continue to underpin the Greenback, despite expectations of a more accommodative monetary policy stance.

Expectations surrounding the Federal Reserve (Fed) also play a key role. Although markets anticipate limited rate cuts, resilient US economic data and persistent inflationary pressures, particularly from energy, are encouraging the central bank to maintain a cautious approach.

Market attention now turns to upcoming US macroeconomic data, particularly the S&P Global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) readings for April.